Page 28 of Before They Were Lovers

“We’re gonna hit ’em hard and hit ’em fast with the full force of the APD.”

Joker walked down the line, slapping helmets and vests.

“I don’t have to tell you the risks or the danger of this mission. Be vigilant. Don’t hesitate, and trust the man beside you.”

God and Day exchanged a quick glance, no words needing to be spoken as he gave his partner a discreet wink.

“Don’t overthink when you bust through those doors because fear and doubt are a luxury you can’t afford.”

The sergeant took a deep breath and concluded, “Gear up and move it. We’re wheels in motion in five.”

God’s heart pumped adrenaline through every part of him. But his anxiety didn’t stand a chance against his bond with his partner.

God

God sat in the passenger seat of the unmarked SUV, waiting on the darkening sky to provide them with the cover they needed to breach the dilapidated warehouse.

Any moment, the radio would crackle with the green light for them to go.

He tightened his grip on his M4 Carbine. This was his favorite time, the calm before the tornado dropped.

He could sense Day’s focus sharpening with each second. The slight shift of his body and the twitching of his jaw were enough for him to know his partner was locked and ready.

He was sure they could do this because they’d been in worse battles over their three years. Fear no longer held him in its clutches when he was with Day. Their connection made him invincible. No situation was too dangerous, no mission impossible if his partner was at his six.

“You good?” Day murmured.

“Always,” God grunted.

Day’s lips curled upward, a grin that was a warning as much as a promise.

The scene commander alerted them that everyone was in position. The entry teams were going in with explosives and window breaches.

God and Day were going in the side behind Joker—as he’d requested.

“Go, go, go!” the lieutenant called out. “Alternative team, stand by.”

“Charge is off. Pull it, pull it!”

“We’re inside! APD, don’t move! Drop your weapons!”

The radio was ablaze with commands. Once the team was inside, the hail of gunfire and explosions were all they could hear as chaos erupted.

“Alt team, go, go, go!”

God and Day had their guns raised as they swiftly moved across the parking lot, their pace in perfect sync.

The battering ram was used to burst open the side doors, and it was as if every dealer inside had planned on using that door to escape because they got ambushed immediately after the breach.

The building was already saturated with flying dust and the acrid stench of gunpowder.

Gunshots rang out, flying at them as they moved side by side. He and Day dove behind a stack of crates and came out from behind as Day surprised a suspect with a swift punch, then a gut shot, before he took him down to the ground.

God locked onto the nearest threat—never moving more than a few feet from his partner—a thug wielding a semiautomatic rifle.

He stayed in motion, slamming into the guy’s right with a force that sent them both crashing to the ground.

He didn’t give his opponent a chance to recover before he knocked the semi out of reach and slammed the butt of his rifle into the man’s knee hard enough to shatter it and take him out of the fight. God moved on.

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